USA > North Carolina > The state records of North Carolina, Vol XV > Part 9
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SIR :
I have Just received yours dated 18th of April last. I perceive it was written immediately after my last reached you, and while your mind was under the Influence of resentment ; to this I attrib- ute its being in a stile which I did not expect from a Man of your rank. I sit down to write to you immediately on the receipt of yours, and I hope you will perceive that, if I exceed you in nothing else, I do in temper and the manners of a Gentleman. You say the general assertions contained in mine respecting the Opinions which Congress and the Country in general entertain of your Military abilities you know are as far from truth as the asserter is from being a Gentleman of Candor,honor or veracity. Tho' this language be hypothetical, 'tis easy to perceive you mean it to be affrontive; and there is no great degree of heroism in using it to a man who is at the distance of many hundred Miles. If the asserter be as near to candor, honor and veracity as the assertions are to truth, his relation is as Intimate as possible. You cannot know the things you say ; you know not the asserter, you have not heard the Debates in Congress, and you have not heard the public Voice ; you can have heard only the voice of the Camp, and that only by
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report of such as are not very willing to Convey disagreeable Truths to you. You are therefore, I presume, but imperfectly qualified to pronounce whether the assertions are true or false, or what is the personal character of the asserter. You are, not I, am persuaded, very fond of hearing such assertions, and few will be at the trouble of making them to you. I should not have tronbled you with them, were it not for your Insinuation that I Injured your reputation through Malice. As this is a motive I am altogether unconscious of, I did not choose even you should deem me capable of being influenced by it, and I doubted not that good sense and Candor would convince you it could not be the motive of a man who was so far removed from all Connection with you, and who scarcely knows you by Sight ; who, being in a publie character, was bonud to form some Opinion of you as a public Officer, and could form that opinion only with those Senses and powers of under- standing which God gave him, and whom Integrity compelled to speak that Opinion in that publie council of which his Country appointed him a member. That I was not Singular in that opinion, that I am but one of a Multitude who have formed the same, many, very many, Sir, can inform you, if they will be at the trou- ble. Whether you think it true or not shall give me no further Concern, yon yourself do not more Sincerely wish it to be erro- neous than I do.
You Conceived, when yon refused the explanation I asked, I should find myself under the Necessity of Seeking you out. You seem to have overlooked some Intimations in my Letters. When yours to Congress, which gave occasion for our correspondence, reached that Assembly I was absent ; on my arrival at York I learned of it, and being then, as I believe I informed you, on my Journey home, I stopped only to write to you. I did not intend that the affair should interrupt either yours or my more important Con- cerns. You were busy in the Campaign ; I was on a visit to my Family, from which I had been absent many Months, and on my arrival at home I was called to attend to my duty in the Legislative Assembly of my Country, where my efforts, however feeble, were necessary for forwarding the great business in which we are both engaged. These I deemed of far greater Importance than adjusting a private affair, and doubted not we should find sufficient Leisure in the recess of the Campaign and after my return to Congress. My
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return was delayed much longer than I expected by an unforseen accident and the almost impassable condition of the roads, and your being ordered to Rhode Island was an event as unexpected as unwelcome to me. To have followed you would have been Idle and romantic, and if otherwise it was out of my power. My pres- ence in Congress was absolutely necessary to enable them to pro- ceed to business, at least so generally so that I could not have obtained permission to have gone any distance. You, I presume, know enough of the Constitution of Congress to know that this is possible. All these circumstances, except the last, I think were Suggested in my former Letters, but you seem to have overlooked them. I am not, Sir, Spur'd on by resentment, nor, I hope, quite so intemperate as to be indiscreet. Tho' I earnestly wish for a proper occasion, I can wait for it without foregoing my purpose. When I requested you to appoint some place, beyond the Imme- diate Neighborhood of the Camp, I imagined it would be equally agreeable to you as to me, and could not suspect you of so great an Indelicacy and impropriety as to wish our Interview to be at Camp. I am still persuaded that had you remained with the Grand army you would have found means to facilitate our meet- ing in some not improper manner. When I was informed of your orders to proceed to Rhode Island I gave up all hopes of seeing you until after the present Campaign. Some event, I doubt not, will yet bring us together. I expect a fortunate one from the aspect of affairs in your department. My last letters from Phil- adelphia of 27th of August assure me you promise Congress very Important Successes. I hope they will be verified, and that next winter will see you in Philadelphia to receive the thanks of Con- gress for your eminent Services. Then may come that auspicious hour when you may take the measures which appear to you proper, when you may meet the man whom you suppose to have injured you, and whom you nevertheless may deem unworthy to meet in arms. Your Insinuations, Sir, I shall not give myself the trou- ble to explain. If you deem your endowments of body or mind superior to mine, or that Mr. Sullivan as a private Citizen or pri- vate Gentleman is superior to Mr. Burke, or that a Major Gen- eral in the Army of the United States is superior to a representa- ative of one of those States, it shall give me no concern. These are the only particulars in which a comparison can be made between
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us ; and (if I mistake you not) the Idea of your own Eminence is very pleasing to you; I wish not to deprive yon of it. Enjoy it, Sir with my hearty good will. The measures which appear to you proper I am sure are not assassination. You are incapable of that ; in whatever other mode yon may make your meditated attack, I trust it will not so far disconcert me as to prevent my giving you an honorable reception. In this I will venture to have a little confidence in myself. I am Sir, &e.,
THOS. BURKE.
GEN. JETHRO SUMNER TO MAJ. GENL. GATES.
[Letters Genl. Gates, 154, Vol. 2, P. 277.]
CAMP AT THE YADKIN FORD, Sept. 29th, 1780. 5
SIR : Since Genl. Davidson wrote to you at my request from Phy- fer's, the Enemy continue in Charlotte, about 2,000 strong ; some enlarge their number to 3,000. On my retreat I endeavoured to bring off all the public stores there I could get any knowledge of, & effected it. I have detached Col. Davie of the Light Horse & Col. Taylor with 200 Horse to Phyfer's Mill & in the Vicinity, to remain & from thence to reconnoitre, & if possible to prevent the Enemy's plundering the inhabitants, & to gain what intelli- genee they could of their strength & designs, & to communicate them immediately to me ; I had an intention of detaching 250 infantry from the Division as a support to the Horse, but those Gentlemen advised to defer this party untill they had felt their intention of fighting by parties ; this party of Horse, I am persuaded, will be joined by a large number from the Country, as they are very Desirous to drive the Enemy from thence.
My information from Charlotte assures me that the Enemy had 22 killed by our party, the day they took possession of Charlotte, & a larger number wounded. Several other small parties have been fired on, & a few killed on both sides. I every hour expeet to hear from Colonels Davies & Taylor. There is near 200 of the Soldiers which compose this Brigade who claim Discharge of Colonel Jarvis's & Colonel Exum's Regiments. I wish, Sir, to have some orders on this matter, being not acquainted with the
.
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Resolves of the Assembly respecting the Militia. I shall continue to give you every matter of intelligence which I may get of the Enemy's movements, &e., that may be in my power.
I am, Sir, Yr. obedt. Servt.,
JETHRO SUMNER.
P. S. This moment by express from Colo. Brevard, who was sent with a party of Horse to gain intelligence from the West- ward, I am informed that Col. Ferguson is at Burke Court House, which seems to indicate an intention of forming a junction with Lord Cornwallis. Here inclosed is an examination of 4 British Prisoners taken at Charlotte.
J. S.
Honble. Majr. Genl. Gates.
[Endorsed] Camp on Yadkin, 29 Sepr., 1780. General Sumner rec'd 2 October, answ'd immediately.
GENL. JETHRO SUMNER TO MAJ. GENL. GATES.
[Letters of Genl. Gates, 154, Vol. 1, P. 275.]
CAMP MCGOON'S CREEK, October 1, 1780.
SIR :
By Capt. Lock I received a Letter informing me of Colonel Dickerson, who was on the Enemy's Lines yesterday and discov- ered 800 of them upon their march, three miles in advance from Charlotte, with two' Field pieces of Cannon, on the Road leading to Bety's ford on Catawba River, about 9 o'clock in the morning. This Detachment is probably intended to support Major Fergu- son, who, we are informed, is in the Neighborhood of Burke Court House, and to act against Cols. Lock, Cleveland, MeDowell and Armstrong.
We have some accounts of the Enemy's being reinforced with two Regiments from New York; others say 1,000. men. This Intelligence is taken from Prisoners. Also that they brought with them to Charlotte about Eighty waggons and 70 or 80 Hogs- heads of Rum; that it was given out they were to march in ten Days from Newbern ; that they were building brush Hutts, their
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Lines were eireumseribed elose in the Town, and the Roll called very often in the Day ; that their Liquors were stored.
I am, Sir, yours, &c., JETHRO SUMNER.
General Gates.
[Endorsed.] Letter from Genl. Sumner to Major Genl. Gates, October 1, 1780.
HON. WHITMELL HILL TO HON. DR. BURKE.
Dr. Mr. Burke. SIR :
Many opportunities from your place have offered since I had the pleasure of receiving yr. last, and as you have not noticed them by a Line to me, must suppose that you waited the Rise of the Assembly, when you would have it in your power to afford me some satisfaction in consequence of the measures adopted by them for the Defence of the Country, and for supplying the Army with necessaries immediately, &e. I hope our State, with the assistance it may reee ve from Virg., will be able to repell the Invasion from our own State, except a considerable Reinforcement should be sent Cornwallis this Winter, which event we ought to be prepared for, as I know of no Obstacle to prevent it. The Campaign in this quarter has been altogether inactive as yet. Our Hopes and our Fears have been alternately wrought on, one day enconraged with the Intelligence of the arrival of the French Fleet, and the next depressed by receiving certain accts. of a superior British Fleet being arrived at N. York. A very consid- erable Embarkation has taken place at N. Y. very lately, which it is one day said to be destined to attack the French Army and Fleet at Rhode Island ; the next, that Virg. is their Object. How- ever, the late discovery of yr. Friend Arnold's Treason fully con- vinees me that their great preparation was for the Reduction of Wt. Point, which, it seems, would have been an easy conquest, Arnold having previously sold that important Post. The partic- ulars of this Villany has not reached us, but from what we can colleet it is something like the following : Mr. Andree, the Adju-
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tant Genl. of the British Army, came incog. to Arnold's Head Quarters, and stipulated with him the essentials for his surrender- ing the Post, in consequence of which Arnold gave him, in writ- ing, the strength of the Garrison, the mode of attack to be made by the Enemy, and the manner he should conduct the Defence so as to render the Reduction certain and easy. Having adjusted matters, Arnold gave Andree a Pass, directing a free passage thro' the several Guards. In this he succceeded, and was twenty miles in his Return when he was stopped by forty Militia Men without an Officer, who, being directed by Inspiration, would not suffer him to pass without a Search, in which the above papers were discovered, and they conducted him to the nearest Conti- nental Officer as a Spy, who immediately dispatched an Express to inform Arnold that there had been a Spye in his Camp, and that he was apprehended, at the same time describing him so as to satisfy Arnold that it was Andree ; on which he immediately pushed down the River to a British Frigate, then lying about 15 Miles below. Had this event took place it must have effected us more than any Stroke we have received since the War, as our Army would have been immediately cut off from the total supply of Meat, and had the British pushed their Arms into the Eastern States there would have been no regular Army to oppose them, and no Bread to have supported the Militia, had they collected. In fact, I look on such an escape as equal to a small Victory. On Arnold's running to the Enemy his papers were seized at this place, and several of our speculating Gentry are discovered as being connected with him in Scenes of Villainous Traffic with the Enemy, &c. Yr. Friend Jas. Main's reputation suffers no small stain in consequence of those discoveries, among others. None of them have been apprehended yet, but suppose necessary steps will be fallen upon to punish such Treason.
October 9, 1780.
.
Since writing the within, have recd. yours & Mr. Sharpe's, and was really astonished at your mention of not having recd. a Line from me since you left this City, as I have wrote you three long Epistles besides the present, and certainly some extraordi- nary mishap befals them on the Road. It is no neglect of mine, as I have embraced several direct opportunities to your place in
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order to communicate what events worthy of your attention had taken place since you left us. I have no particular matter to engage your attention now except our wretched prospect of suc- ceeding in our great Enterprise, and for a moment view this Con- tinent contending with the most powerful people on Earth, with- out one Shilling of Money in the Treasury, no public Magazines of Provisions, Forage, &c., laid up for the Army, which during this Campaign have been ten times without Bread, and as often without one monthful of Meat, notwithstanding there is a great plenty in the Country ; in fact, we have nothing to buy it with but Certificates issued by the Commissary, &c. Of these the people are quite tired, and when it is to grow better I know not, as I am very apprehensive the new Emission will not have a Cir- enlation when the attempt is made. Are you not alarmed at onr Situation ? Must confess I am exceedingly. Perhaps it may arise from my natural Timidity, but the more I reflect on our affairs the more gloomy prospects throw themselves within my View. Amidst all onr domestic Inefficiency, our Allies appear to be at least inactive; the Armament sent to our Relief has been blocked np in Rhode Island ever since their Arrival ; the British, by the latest accounts, keep the command of the channel, having, by putting to Sea early, prevented the junction of the combined Fleets ; and, notwithstanding .the very great superiority of the combined Fleets in the Wt. Indies, they have been hitherto inact- ive, and at last dwindled to nothing. In short, I know not what is to become of us.
I observe with pain the Restrictions you are obliged to make on Genl. Gates' Conduct, and have since the recpt. of your Letter prevailed on Congress to direct Genl. Washington to order a Court of Enquiry into his Conduct and to send a proper Officer to suc- ceed him. I don't know yet who it will be, but have some Expect- ation it will be Green.
I write to Mr. Hart by this opportunity relative to his little Daughter, and find there is some small Difficulty in Mr. Morris's settling his accounts. As Mrs. Bordeau seems to press very much for the payments to be made in Specic, I waited on Mrs. Bordeau on the Business, and she informs me that it is necessary that her several Masters should be paid in Specie, as they would not engage to receive Paper. I believe it would be well that Col. Hart trans-
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mit to Mr. Morris a sum in Specie to answer these demands, it being disagreeable to every person here to make advances of Money, as they are all engaged in Speculations of one kind or another. For my part, it is not in my power to make advances, as it will be with great difficulty I shall be able to get away with- ont borrowing, which must have been the case had I not sent home for a considerable Sum.
I am, Dr. Sir, wt. great Esteem, Yr. most obedt. Servt.,
W. HILL.
COL. JAMES WILLIAMS TO MAJ. GENERAL GATES.
BURKE COUNTY, Oct, 2d. 1780.
SIR :
I am at present about seventy miles from Salisbury, in the fork of the Catawba, with about four hundred and fifty horsemen, in pursuit of Col. Ferguson. On my crossing the Catawba River, I dispatched to different quarters for intelligence, and this evening I was favoured with this news, which you may depend on : That Col. Clarke, of the State of Georgia, with one hundred riflemen, forced his way from South Carolina to Georgia. On his route thither, being joined by seven hundred men, he proceeded to the town of Augusta, and has taken it with a large quantity of goods ; but not finding it prudent to continue there, he has retreated to the upper parts of South Carolina, in Ninety Six district, and made a stand with eight hundred brave men. This moment another of my expresses is arrived from Cols. MeDowell and Shelby ; they were on their march, near Burke Court House, with fifteen hundred brave mounted men, and Col. Cleveland was within ten miles of them with eight hundred men, and was to form a junction with them this day.
I expect to join them to-morrow, in pursuit of Col. Ferguson, and under the direction of heaven I hope to be able to render your honor a good account of him in a few days.
I am, &c., JAMES WILLIAMS.
Major General Gates.
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GOV. THOMAS JEFFERSON TO
RICHMOND, Oct. 2, 1780.
SIR :
I am sorry to be obliged to inform you that it is out of my. power to have paiment made of Mr. Clay's draught for 225,000 dollars. Our treasury is at present absolutely exhausted, and no prospect of its being replenished till the assembly shall have met & have had time to provide supplies. I hope this will reach you in time to prevent the additional disappointment which might arise from your setting out on your journey previous to your receipt of it.
I have the honor to be,
With the greatest esteem & respect, Sir, Your most obedt. & most humble Servt., THOS. JEFFERSON.
RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS.
[Journals of Congress, Vol. 3, P 532.]
Tuesday, Oct. 3, 1780.
[Extract.]
Resolved, That the regular army of the United States, from and after the 1st day of Jannary next, consist of + regiments of cavalry or light dragoons ; 4 regiments of artillery ; 49 regiments of infan- try, exclusive of the Colonel Hazen's regiment, hereafter men- tioned ; 1 regiment of artificers ;
* * * That each regiment of infantry consist of 9 companies, and each company consist of 6+ men, commissioned officers and privates. * *
* * * That the several States furnish the follow-
ing quotas, viz. :
North Carolina, 4 regiments of infantry.
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GOV. JOSIAH MARTIN TO RT. HON. H. F. CARTERET.
[B. P. R. O., Am. & W. Ind., No. 593.]
HEAD QUARTERS AT CHARLOTTE TOWN, IN NORTH CAROLINA, Oct. 4th, 1780.
SIR :
By a letter I gave myself the honor of writing to you in August by my friend Captain Ross, Lord Cornwallis's Aid de Camp, I informed you that I conceived it would be proper, so soon as you should find us in good hold of North Carolina, to employ your interest to obtain Government's immediate approbation of the Draft of a Bill which I transmitted for consideration in the year 1775, for the better collection of the King's and the Proprietors' Revenue of Quit Rents in North Carolina, which was thought well calculated to answer those purposes by the then Secretary of State, and by him, as a matter appertaining to the Crown Reve- nue, referred to the Treasury Board, where I think it probably still is. This Bill, if it met with approbation, was to have been returned with a recommendation to the Provincial Legislature to pass it into a Law. I apprehended at that time it was not in the intention of Government to take that regulation under the consider- ation of Parliament ; and I should doubt whether it will be now thought a business to enter upon them. If it is not, I should beg leave to recommend it to you to obtain the necessary approbation and recommendation of it to send to me, together with a Copy of the Draft of the Bill, & of the detached additional clauses which I transmitted in the year 1775 to the Secretary of State, when- ever I shall advise you that they may be put in train, as it is doubtfull whether I may find in this Country the original Draft that by some oversight was left with other Papers which it is probable the Rebels seized with my effects.
I have the honour to be,
With great respect, Sir, &c., JO. MARTIN.
Right Honble.
H. F. Carteret, &c., &c., &c.
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EDWARD SALTER TO GOVERNOR NASH.
PITT COUNTY, October 4th, 1780.
SIR :
I left Genl. Sumner's Camp, Seven Miles below Sharlot, on last Sunday week, 24th. On Monday Morning I heard the British were advancing, and Genl. Sumner was retreating towards the Yadkin. On Thursday Evening three men came into Hillsborough with an express to Genl. Gates. I was informed by them that the British Troops were advancing ; that our Light Horse had engaged the British Light Horse three separate times on the Tuesday before, six miles this side of Sharlot. No material advan- tage gained on either side ; that Genl. Sminner intended to retreat on this side of the Yadkin in Order to be reinforced. Iintended to have waited on your Excellency, but am much fatigued and siek. Mr. Bignell mentioned to me when at Hillsborough that provision was to be put up for the use of the Army. If your Excellency has the direction of that matter, I shall be glad to assist in this part, as I have very good Convenience for hunting up provisions.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedt. Servt., EDW. SALTER.
JOSEPH GIBBS, JR., TO GOV. ABNER NASH.
STATE NO. CAROLINA, HYDE COUNTY, MATTAMUSKEET, October 4th day, 1780. 5
This, my Humble Redress to His Excelance, Desiring of his Exalanee that if he has received a petition Tonching My Car- acter of not receiving My Commition by Seniority, I beag to have a Hearing aGreeable to Law for my rise, and allso for My Con- duct in office, and not to be turned out by a fue desined persons, for it is in my power to prove I had my Commition both by rise and allso by the Voice of the Company, which is well known by all the officers in the bove said County that the Man recommended by a fue Indevegals never bore any Commition in hyde County in the Militia, only had a Commition granted him in actual serves, 15-7
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which I am able to make appear if his Exalancey will be pleas to grant me that Libberty, if the petition hath bore any wate with his Exalance above mentioned.
Pray Excuse my Heast. From
Your Moust obedient and Verry humble Servint, JOSEPH GIBBS, JR.
N. B. And that if his Exalanee Hath Granted a Commition, that I may have a Rehearing a Greeable to Law.
To His Excellence Governor Nash.
GOVERNOR ABNER NASH TO PRESIDENT SAML. HUNTINGTON ..
-
[Dept. of State. North Carolina State Papers, Book 72, Page 101.] NEWBERN, October 6th, 1780.
SIR :
I have had the Honour to receive sundry dispatches from your Excellency lately containing Resolves of Congress. These were ยท received on the Road during our Excursion made to the Western part of the Country, and of course I could not conveniently answer them as they came to hand, and I am now sorry to acquaint you that there is little prospect of our being able to fill up our Conti- mental Battalions, owing to the perpetual calls we have for the Militia. All that part of the people who might otherwise be expected to enlist in the service are employed as substitutes, and indeed get the most extravagant premiums, far beyond anything that the public could offer. So long, therefore, as this necessity cf employ- ing so large a number of our Militia in the field continnes, it will be impracticable to fill up our Battalions ; & with respect to pro- visions, I am to acquaint you that the state of our country at pres- ent is such as will render very Precarious any supplies that might otherwise be expected of us. Providence, indeed, has blessed us with very plentiful erops, & the country abounds in Beef & Pork, & could we keep the enemy ont of the country, & have the bene- fit of our Laws for laying a specific Tax, a very considerable sup- ply might doubtless be expected of us ; but, Sir, as I said, this is
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